It’s that proverbial time again! Armed with razor sharp tongues, all political parties in Cyprus are ready to do battle with one another for the ultimate price: the prestigious presidential chair!
The stakes are very high indeed! Deals and counter deals have already begun aiming to secure political coalition so the almighty “commas,” (parties) do not lose out but to snatch a piece of the pie. Sadly, nothing moves in Cyprus unless those inglorious political parties, who shamelessly continue to perpetuate a social schism, give their blessings; they control all life on the island and resist any kind of attempt to reduce their stranglehold on society.
Consequently, the two major players are now verbally slugging each other, while the stragglers, hither and thither, jump from one camp and into another, attempting to pick up a few breadcrumbs so they can delude themselves as being a power to be reckoned with. But unfortunately, politics are a dirty business; Politicians worldwide have shown that they have neither shame nor any loyalty when it comes to political survival, careers come first!
The fact that over 130,000 registered voters (32% of the population) chose to abstain from voting in the last elections clearly shows how apathetic people have become due to political mistrust, bad politics and bad leadership. Yet politicians continue their old ways, as if peoples’ votes belong to them exclusively. Their reprehensible behavior has sunk the electorate so low and into a morose political abyss, which for certain will continue beyond the 2013 elections.
As it stands, the unpopular ruling communist party has turned obstinate and defensive, sensing they may lose the next presidency; the right wing is euphoric under the delusion that they have already won the elections; the smaller parties keep on bragging with their rhetoric for political point scoring; and there is – for the moment at least – a new candidate on the scene, George Lillikas – an ex-foreign minister. He is running a campaign as an independent. A well-known figure in politics, his entry into the race may tip the scale; provided he plays his cards right and his policies touch people’s hearts.
For Citizen Joe however, the fugal battle for a new president does not offer much hope for a better tomorrow; they expect all of the same. It seems that people have finally wised up and demand changes. They are in search of a new type of president; one that will bring them out of the doldrums and rekindle the nation’s pride and dignity once again. They seek out a leader who may be blessed with a free mind and who has the wisdom to make sweeping changes. The present candidates are simply a chip of the old block and carry many skeletons in their closets.
In short, Cyprus needs a superman to assemble teams of experts, technocrats, academics and wise individuals to turn a new chapter in the history of this island. Unless by some miracle, a strong visionary leader rises above the rest to pioneer revolutionary policies to deal with Turkey’s aggressive threats and equally launch a vigorous catharsis of the entire system, things will never improve, but for certain are guaranteed to remain the same.
Fortunately, Cyprus is blessed with wise and capable men and women who have the ability and the dream to lead the nation forward. Sadly, under the present political system, they are sidelined and will never be given the opportunity to even try; tampering with the existing system is considered anathema.
In fact Cyprus, has been practicing a Flawed Democracy based on a Flawed Constitution under a Flawed Presidential form of government from the very day of its independence. The Constitution, especially, has been the blueprint of political instability that has incubated brutal corruption and nepotism. It should have been scrapped years ago but no one dares or has the foresight to even think of tackling the issue for it suits the status quo splendidly well.
Drafted by the British Foreign Office, it was mainly aimed to fester partitioning aspirations, a social division and social stagnation. Dividing the nation into ethnic groups, it’s a sure way to manipulate and control all political developments on the island.
Based on APPENDIX A – Article 1 of the Cyprus Constitution the divisional seeds become obvious. It states as follows:
- The State of Cyprus is an independent and sovereign Republic with a presidential regime, the President being Greek and the Vice-President being Turk, elected by the Greek and the Turkish Communities of Cyprus respectively as hereinafter in this Constitution provided;
- Article 2 (1) elaborates: the Greek Community comprises all citizens who are of Greek origin and whose mother tongue is Greek or who share the Greek cultural traditions or who are members of the Greek-Orthodox Church; and (2) the Turkish Community comprises all citizens of the Republic who are of Turkish origin and whose mother tongue is Turkish or who share the Turkish cultural traditions or who are Moslems;
- As a further example of political incorrectness, it also stipulates that: (a) a married woman shall belong to the community to which her husband belongs. (b) a male or female child under the age of twenty-one who is not married shall belong to the Community to which his or her father belongs.
The most discriminatory provision enshrined into the Cyprus Constitution is the autocratic principle that upholds the President and Vice-President as untouchables and supreme entities above all other citizens. That provision is the blueprint of the making of petty dictators and despots. The Law of the Land or even the Parliament cannot touch them while in office and neither can they be impeached or be forced to resign – unless they consent to it.
Article 45 makes it abundantly clear: The President or the Vice-President of the Republic shall not be liable to any criminal prosecution during his term of office except under the provisions of this Article.
Those provisions are drafted in such a way as to be interpreted, twisted and manipulated in a manner and ways to exonerate those in the highest office. The Marie tragedy is a classic example of how despotism has been nurtured, rooted and applied by the head of state to avoid political and personal responsibility. Protected by presidential immunity, the president arrogantly resisted public demands for his resignation and equally ignored all parliamentary attempts for impeachment.
Traditionally, sovereign immunity is an archaic form of “protectionism and favoritism,” developed during a past era that favored a select elite. This doctrine that the “king can do no wrong” serves the system well, for power is very corruptive and most enviable that no-one shies away from. It applies to all members of government, parliamentarians, high-ranking officials and embassy staff members.
Continued to this very day, not only is it wrong, but it also sends out a message that “all is permissible by those who enjoy preferential treatment on the basis of political immunity.” As for the ordinary citizens of the state, they are treated as children of lesser gods.
The principal of political immunity should apply to the Office and not to officials; if they break the Law of the Land, they should pay the consequences! Political immunity of individuals – no matter who that individual is – is not only unjust and undemocratic, but it can also breed corruption and needs to be scrapped from the statute books of Cyprus along with the existing flawed Constitution.
It is far more desirable to be governed by the Rule of Law under “one-man-one-vote” rather than to allow dogmatic individuals to rule the masses under a flawed democracy. Writing in 350 BC, Aristotle declared that, “the Rule of Law is better than the rule of any individual. Law should govern.” The “Rule of Man” certainly does not belong in a democratic form of government and should be avoided at all costs.
Andreas C Chrysafis is author of WHO SHALL GOVERN CYPRUS – Brussels or Nicosia? -Political analysis, ANDARTES – a revolutionary riveting novel, PORPHYRA in PURPLE – a metaphysical spellbinding novel. Other published articles can be found on Google under “Vanishing Cyprus” or under “Andreas C Chrysafis.”
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